Determination of exposure to lead of subjects from southwestern Poland by human hair analysis

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to lead from various sources by investigation of mineral composition of human scalp hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled from 267 young adults living in Wroc?aw (southwest Poland). The effect of the place of residence, diet, and lifestyle on lead content in hair was examined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Lead was determined at the wavelength 220.353 nm. These outcomes were reached by linking the results of lead level in hair with the results of questionnaire survey. The mean lead level in hair of the whole examined population was 2.01?±?2.10 mg kg^?1. Lead can enter the human body mainly by inhalation and gastrointestinal absorption. It was found that consuming cheese, fish, and lettuce caused increased level of lead in hair. On the other hand, drinking of milk, tea, coffee, or lemon resulted in decreased content of lead in hair. Additional source of exposure to lead could be cigarette smoking, distance to the traffic road, painting the walls, amalgam filling. Based on the results, it can be concluded that exposure to lead can occur mainly from eating habits and environmental exposure.     

Assessment of the applicability of a “toolbox” designed for microbially assisted phytoremediation: the case study at Ingurtosu mining site (Italy)

The paper describes the fieldwork at the Italian test site of the abandoned mine of sphalerite and galena in Ingurtosu (Sardinia), with the aim to assess the applicability of a “toolbox” to establish the optimized techniques for remediation of soils contaminated by mining activities. A preliminary characterization—including (hydro)geochemistry, heavy metal concentration and their mobility in soil, bioprospecting for microbiology and botany—provided a data set for the development of a toolbox to deliver a microbially assisted phytoremediation process. Euphorbia pithyusa was selected as an endemic pioneer plant to be associated with a bacterial consortium, established with ten selected native strains, including metal-tolerant bacteria and producers of plant growth factors. The toolbox was firstly assessed in a greenhouse pot experiment. A positive effect of bacterial inoculum on E. pithyusa germination and total plant survival was observed. E. pithyusa showed to be a well-performing metallophyte species, and only inoculated soil retained a microbial activity with a high functional diversity, expanding metabolic affinity also towards root exudates. These results supported the decision to proceed with a field trial, investigating different treatments used singly or in combination: bioaugmentation with bacterial consortia, mycorrhizal fungi and a commercial mineral amendment. Microbial activity in soil, plant physiological parameters and heavy metal content in plants and in soil were monitored. Five months after the beginning, an early assessment of the toolbox under field conditions was carried out. Despite the cold season (October–March), results suggested the following: (1) the field setup as well as the experimental design proved to be effective; (2) plant survival was satisfactory; (3) soil quality was increased and bioaugmentation improved microbial activity, expanding the metabolic competences towards plant interaction (root exudates); and (4) multivariate analysis supported the data provided that the proposed toolbox can be established and the field trial can be carried forward.     

Application of FT-Raman spectroscopy for in situ detection of microorganisms on the surface of textiles

In this work we present the usefulness of FT-Raman spectroscopy for microbiological analysis of textiles. This technique was used for non-destructive identification of Escherichia coli bacteria on cotton and polyester fabrics. It was possible to discriminate between infected and non-infected materials. Moreover, this technique allowed detection of detergent traces as well as investigation of the influence of microorganisms on different textiles. Raman analysis supported by chemometrics (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) was shown to be a method for identification of textiles with inoculum of microorganisms in a short time. The results can be potentially used in the fabric industry and related areas.     

Occupational safety and health as an element of a complex compensation system evaluation within an organization

Occupational safety and health (OSH) plays a significant role in today’s organizations, because it helps in attracting and retaining employees as well as molding their attitudes and behaviors at work. This is why the issue of OSH is stressed in a comprehensive approach to employee rewards: the total reward concept. This article explains how OSH may be included in a complex evaluation process of the compensation system. Although the literature on the effectiveness of employee compensation refers mainly to financial and non-financial components, there is a need for inclusion of working conditions in such analyses. An evaluation of the compensation system that incorporates OSH can drive many benefits for both the organization and employees. Obtaining such benefits, however, requires systematic evaluation of the reward system, including OSH. Incorporation of OSH issue within the comprehensive analysis of compensation systems promotes responsible behavior of all stakeholders.     

CaCO3 production using liquid waste from Solvay method

Process of obtaining CaCO₃ from the waste post-distillation liquid DS and post-filtration liquid from Solvay method of the soda production at 303 K was investigated. Reagents were dosed in a stoichiometric ratio without dilution, for different concentrations of the DS and post-filtration liquids. The dosage time was varied in the range 2–30 min, the reagent stirring rate was 500 rpm. For the obtained samples of CaCO₃, the bulk and packing densities, water, paraffin oil and dibutyl phthalate absorption capacities, distribution of the particle size as well as the crystalline form were determined.     

Extraction properties of new polymeric sorbents in SPE/GC analysis of phenol and hydroquinone from water samples

The influence of the polymers' properties on the solid-phase extraction recovery was studied. Different porous copolymers were used: di(methacryloyloxymethyl)naphtalene-divinylbenzene with ester functional groups (DMN-DVB), 4,4'-bis(maleimido)diphenylmethane-divinylbenzene with imide functional groups (BM-DVB), p,p'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane diglycidyl methacrylic ester-divinylbenzene (MEMDE-DVB) and p,p'-dihydroxydiphenylpropane diglycidyl methacrylic ester-divinylbenzene (MEDDE-DVB) with ester end hydroxyl functional groups. The extraction properties of new synthesized polymeric sorbents were compared with these of two commercial polymeric sorbents: styrene-divinylbenzene (SDB-1) and styrene-divinylbenzene with modified surface (StrataX). These sorbents were used in the SPE of phenol and hydroquinone from water samples.     

Equilibrium and kinetic modelling of chromium(III) sorption by animal bones

The paper discusses sorption of Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions by animal bones. Animal bones were found to be an efficient sorbent with the maximum experimentally determined sorption capacity in the range 29-194 mg g(-1) that depended on pH and temperature. The maximum experimentally determined sorption capacity was obtained at 50 degrees C, pH 5. Batch kinetics and equilibrium experiments were performed in order to investigate the influence of contact time, initial concentration of sorbate and sorbent, temperature and pH. It was found that sorption capacity increased with increase of Cr(III) concentration, temperature and initial pH of metal solution. Mathematical models describing kinetics and statics of sorption were proposed. It was found that process kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order pattern. The influence of sorbent concentration was described with Langmuir-type equation and the influence of sorbate concentration was described with empirical dependence. The models were positively verified.